Easy No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Bar Recipe

No-churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Bars are the easy, creamy treat you need this summer, and no ice cream maker is required. It's like a piece of frozen key lime pie on a stick! This is the best recipe and has become one of my new favorite ice cream flavors.

Jump to:

• Why this is the best key lime pie ice cream recipe
• Ingredients
• How to make no churn key lime ice cream
• Top tip
• Wine pairing for key lime pie
• Serving suggestions
• Equipment
• Storage
• FAQ
• Other summer dessert recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

I wanted to create a no churn key lime pie ice cream bar recipe that was fun and suitable for summer parties with a bit of the wow factor. We infuse the heavy cream with fresh lime juice and zest so that it is full of citrus flavor. Then we whip it and fold in some key lime curd and sweetened condensed milk.

The mixture is frozen in ice cream popsicle molds before being dipped in a silky Italian meringue and torched at the last minute before serving. For extra Key Lime Pie flavor and texture, add some crushed Graham Crackers or other cookies as a garnish. Allow guests to choose how they want to enjoy this summer dessert, whether it's an ice cream bar version of key lime pie with meringue or dipped in whipped cream and Graham Crackers to get some pie crust crunch. It's the perfect combination.

Why this is the best key lime pie ice cream recipe

1. The tangy taste: This easy and delicious homemade ice cream bars recipe is packed with fresh lime flavor and tastes of summer. The citrus cuts through the cream and sweetness and balances it perfectly.
2. The creamy texture: Making creamy ice cream with condensed milk gives it the most deliciously soft and chewy texture whilst still being frozen, unlike some other no-churn ice cream recipes, which are way too hard.
3. The simplicity: Did you know you can make your own ice cream with no ice cream machine? As a professional chef, I originally scoffed at the idea of making this easy no-churn ice cream with condensed milk. But I am a total convert. It takes minutes to make, and then you simply pour it into ice cream bar molds, put it in the freezer, and forget about it until you want to eat one! No churn, no ice cream maker, and no hassle.

Ingredients

Making key lime pie ice cream bars is so easy; you will need hardly any equipment and only simple ingredients.

Main Ingredients For Key Lime Ice Cream Base

1. Key lime curd: it can be hard to buy key limes! Key limes are green when you pick them and turn yellow as they ripen. They have a tart taste and bring a delicious key lime flavor. You can make key lime curd or buy it, or just use regular lime curd.
2. Limes: Real lime juice and zest add natural flavor to this ice cream bar recipe. Persian limes (the regular limes you find in grocery stores) are much easier to get hold of than fresh key limes.
3. Sweetened condensed milk: This is the magic ingredient in no-churn ice creams. Its evaporated water content makes it ideal, as it will not harden in the freezer.
4. Heavy cream: Use high-quality heavy cream for best results (also known as double cream).

Key Lime Meringue Pie Garnish

1. White granulated sugar: Italian meringue is made with hot sugar syrup that is whisked into egg whites. This means it is technically cooked and safe to eat unbaked.
2. Egg whites: When separating the eggs, take great care not to get any egg yolks into the egg whites. Room-temperature eggs make the best meringue.
3. Heavy cream: Alternatively, use whipped heavy cream to get that classic key lime pie taste.
4. Graham crackers: For a pie crust texture, use Graham Cracker crumbs (or Digestive biscuits) or even some sweet shortcrust pastry.

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full quantities and detailed instructions on how to make easy no-churn key lime pie ice cream bars.

How to make no churn key lime ice cream

1. Measure heavy cream into a large bowl.
2. Briskly stir in the fresh lime juice, and grate in the lime zest. The acidity of the lime will thicken the cream naturally.
3. Stir in the condensed milk and key lime curd (or plain lime curd).
4. Pour the no-churn key lime pie ice cream mixture into popsicle molds and place a stick in each one. If it is too liquid, wait until it is semi-frozen to do this.
5. Freeze the ice cream bars for 6 hours before decorating and enjoying.

How to make Italian meringue

1. Measure sugar into a saucepan and add water until it is just covered.
2. Heat the sugar water on low and stir gently until the sugar dissolves into the liquid.
3. Turn up the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Place the sugar thermometer into the sugar syrup and wait until it reaches 115 degrees Celsius / 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Whip egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric whisk (hand mixer) or stand mixer until stiff peaks form.
6. Slowly add the sugar syrup whilst continuing to whisk once it hits 120 degrees Celsius / 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't add it too fast, or you will scramble the eggs.
7. Continue to add the syrup until it is all incorporated, and you have a thick, glossy white Italian meringue.

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Garnishes

Wine pairing for key lime pie

Try serving a sparkling rose wine with key lime pie and key lime pie ice cream bars like a sparkling rosé crémant or a rosé prosecco.

Serving suggestions

There are so many ways to serve this no-churn key lime pie ice cream bar! It is delicious on its own, creamy, chewy, and sweet yet zingy ice cream on a stick. Super refreshing and perfect for hot weather. Then you can create the taste and texture of key lime pie 'fillings' and dip it in Italian meringue, which can be eaten unbaked as it is already cooked by the hot sugar syrup.

Then, you can dip it in crumbled cookies (like Graham Crackers or digestive biscuits) or leftover bits of sweet pie crust (shortcrust pastry). You could even use some chopped nuts or toasted almond flakes for some crunch. Or, get your kitchen torch out and toast the meringue until it is golden brown. The easiest option is to just dip it in whipped cream.

I serve this no-churn key lime ice cream bar recipe as an easy dessert for a BBQ after dishes like BBQ black garlic chicken, buttered corn on the grill, and a delicious whipped feta dip with roasted tomatoes. If you love an easy ice cream bar recipe, you should also try my white chocolate raspberry ice cream bar.

Equipment

To make no churn key lime pie popsicles, you will need a large mixing bowl, a spatula, and popsicle molds (or ice cream bar molds). It's so easy! No ice cream maker, no hassle. If you want to make the Italian meringue frosting garnish, you will need a sugar thermometer, a saucepan, an electric mixer, and a mixing bowl.

Storage

Key lime pie ice cream (no churn) will keep in the freezer for up to a month. Avoid garnishing them with meringue pie filling or crumbled pie crust until the point of serving.

FAQ

Other summer dessert recipes

Looking for other recipes for summer parties like this? Try these:

📖 Recipe